Abstract
The effect of the cholinomimetic, pilocarpine, on behavioral arousal as measured by locomotor activity was investigated in the rat. Pilocarpine first produced a period of behavioral inhibition, the intensity and duration of which was dose-related. After the inhibitory phase, a period of marked psychomotor excitation was observed. Pretreatment with scopolamine prevented both the inhibitory and excitatory effects of pilocarpine. Scopolamine administered at the onset of the rebound hyperactive period, however, significantly potentiated this excitatory phase. The anticholinesterase, physostigmine, also had a biphasic effect on behavioral arousal. The results are interpreted as indicating induction of central adrenergic activity in response to central cholinergic stimulation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brodie, B. B., Spector, S., Shore, P. A.: In: Symposium on Catecholamines, (O. Krayer, Ed.), pp. 548–564. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins 1959.
Campbell, B. A., Lytle, L. D., Fibiger, H. C.: Ontogeny of adrenergic arousal and cholinergic inhibitory mechanisms in the rat. Science 166, 635–637 (1969).
Carlton, P. L.: Augmentation of the behavioral effects of amphetamine by scopolamine. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 2, 377–380 (1961).
—: Cholinergic mechanism in the control of behavior by the brain. Psychol. Rev. 70, 19–39 (1963).
—, Didamo, P.: Augmentation of the behavioral effects of amphetamine by atropine. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 134, 91–94 (1961).
Dairman, W., Udenfriend, S.: Increased conversion of tyrosine to catecholamines in the intact rat following elevation of tissue tyrosine hydroxylase levels by administered phenoxypenzamine. Molec. Pharmacol. 6, 350–356 (1970).
Domino, E. F., Olds, M. E.: Cholinergic inhibition of self-stimulation behavior. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 164, 202–211 (1968).
Fibiger, H. C., Lytle, L. D., Campbell, B. A.: Cholinergic modulation of adrenergic arousal in the developing rat. J. comp. physiol. Psychol. 72, 384–389 (1970).
Friedman, M. J., Jaffe, J. H.: A central hypothermic response to pilocarpine in the mouse. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 167, 34–44 (1969).
Gellhorn, E.: Autonomic imbalance and the hypothalamus. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press 1957.
Heaton, T. B., MacKeith, M. H.: On the action of pilocarpine. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 63, 42–50 (1927).
Hernandez-Peon, R., Chavez-Ibarra, G., Morgane, P. J.: Limbic cholinergic pathways involved in sleep and emotional behavior. Exp. Neurol. 8, 93–111 (1963).
Hess, W. R.: The functional organization of the diencephalon. New York: Grunne and Stratton 1957.
Hunt, R.: Vasodilator reactions II. Amer. J. Physiol. 45, 231–267 (1918).
Karczmar, A. G., Tongo, V. G., Scotti de Carolis, A.: A pharmacological model of paradoxical sleep: the role of cholinergic and monoamine systems. Physiol. Behav. 5, 175–182 (1970).
Lomax, P., Foster, R. S., Kirkpatrick, W. E.: Cholinergic and adrenergic interactions in the thermoregulatory centers of the rat. Brain Res. 15, 431–438 (1969).
Manto, P. G.: Blockade of epinephrine-induced decrement in activity by scopolamine. Psychon. Sci. 7, 203–204 (1967).
Morgane, P. J.: Chemical mapping of hypnogenic and arousal systems in the brain. Psychophysiol. 6, 219 (1969).
Olds, M. E., Domino, E. F.: Comparison of muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic agonists on self-stimulation behavior. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 166, 189–204 (1969).
Parmeggiani, P. L.: Telencephalo-diencephalic aspects of sleep mechanisms. Brain Res. 7, 350–359 (1968).
Pfeiffer, C. C., Jenney, E. H.: The inhibition of the conditioned response and the counteraction of schizophrenia by muscarinic stimulation of the brain. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 66, 753–764 (1957).
Pradhan, S. N., Dutton, S. N.: Behavioral effects of arecoline. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 17, 49–58 (1970).
—, Roth, T.: Comparative behavioral effects of several anticholinergic agents in rats. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 12, 358–366 (1968).
Root, M. A.: Certain aspects of the vasopressor action of pilocarpine. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 101, 125–131 (1951).
Rosecrans, J. R., Drew, A. T., Domino, E. F.: Effects of physostigmine on rat brain acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase, and conditioned pole jumping. Neuropharmacol. 7, 127–134 (1968).
Smith, D. E.: Unpublished dissertation, Princeton University (1970).
Stark, P., Totty, C. W., Turk, J. A., Henderson, J. K.: A possible role of a cholinergic system affecting hypothalamic-elicited eating. Amer. J. Physiol. 214, 463–468 (1968).
Zelter, G.: Cataleptic state and hypothermia in mice, caused by central cholinergic stimulation and antagonized by anticholinergic and antidepressant drug. Neuropharmacol. 7, 325–335 (1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported in part by United States Public Health Service Grant MH-8501 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Byron A. Campbell. The authors gratefully acknowledge the encouragement and helpful criticism of Byron A. Campbell throughout all phases of this research.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fibiger, H.C., Lynch, G.S. & Cooper, H.P. A biphasic action of central cholinergic stimulation on behavioral arousal in the rat. Psychopharmacologia 20, 366–382 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403568
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403568